This is the first time in the Tour's past three editions where the Col d'Izoard has been used in the finale or as the summit finish to the stage. Both in the 2014 177km stage 14 edition, and the 200km 2011 stage 18 edition, the Izoard had been used in the middle of the three categorized climbs, not at its conclusion.

In 2014 Majka won what was regarded as the queen stage, when he attacked the remaining riders of the early 17-man breakaway with some 10kms to-go. The race for 4th-place was won by Pinot when he came home stronger than Bardet after a tough fight between the two FRA riders.

In 2011 Andy Schleck attacked on the Izoard out of the select peloton and with some 60kms to-go, to solo to victory, using satellite teammates up the road. It was a magnificent tactical move by Leopard Trek, and it was a dream day with brother Frank finishing in 2nd-place.

I think it is expected that a large breakaway gets off the front, which is very likely to include Bling as he seeks to cut his difference to Kittel in the Points classification to only 9 points. Barguil was 8/1 at SP and has gone into the outright favourite at 6/1. This is based on his likely involvement in the breakaway for the considerable KOM points on offer, particularly on the summit finish, although perhaps not defending his lead against De Gendt and Roglic so much as neautralizing GC contenders KOM involvement. The GC contenders like in 2011, 2013, and 2015, were involved in the KOM competition, even in 2014 when Majka won it they were involved. GC involvement whilst not surprising, nevertheless can cause a flurry of movements on the classification table and Barguil/SUN are aware that by winning these stages with double points on max points summit finishes, will allow a rider like Froome, upon winning the stage, to close the gap to Barguil to 42 points.

Attacks are likely to be launched by Bardet and Aru, so SKY will maintain a high tempo to prevent attacks from forming. If ALM have a plan it's likely to be the similar approach of their stage 9 ride, with forward satellites for Bardet. This would also match what Leopard-Trek did, so ALM may feel inspired. I think Bardet is looking strong coming into this portion of the race and SKY know it, so am expecting all hands on deck, and hard riding from SKY to give the young FRA rider a tough outing. From Aru I can only envision a very late attack for a handful of secs on the final climb, so whilst a threat, less likely of one than Bardet. I don't see Uran as a major threat at all, although he is riding in career-best form. We may not have seen much from Froome off the front and plenty to suggest some weaknesses, however on the stage 15 where he suffered from his mechanical, the ride to rejoin was impressive and if it was conducted off the front it would have been race-winning, under the right conditions.

In conclusion; the breakaway's chances are less likely on account of SKY monitoring the situation and giving Froome's GC rivals a hard ride. ALM may have something up their sleeve and Bardet should be strong, however I'm convinced Froome is strong-enough to defend any attacks and he will go close, also. Froome to win (9/2 favourite at SP into 7/1) from Bardet (6/1 at SP into 8/1) unless ALM get something big organised for the stage win.

The market is suggesting there is only one rider in the breakaway -- there have been a lot of riders who have done no work and if it's a TT flats cooperation situation it's up for grabs for the remaining riders.

The market is suggesting there is only one rider in the breakaway -- there have been a lot of riders who have done no work and if it's a TT flats cooperation situation it's up for grabs for the remaining riders.

Timing must have been wrong. Went up stupidly quickly and now coming back at the same speed. Down to 4' again.

If Kwiato can get to the bottom of the Galibier. Nieve and Landa could drill the Galibier from the start if Froome is feeling good.

Timing must have been wrong. Went up stupidly quickly and now coming back at the same speed. Down to 4' again. If Kwiato can get to the bottom of the Galibier. Nieve and Landa could drill the Galibier from the start if Froome is feeling good.

3mins by the start -- not enough!5mins by the start -- enough!...but then you have the TT cooperation along the flats situation to solve. And you need composition information for that.So what do we know?Bertie is all-in for the win -- team have done a lot of work -- he is expected to perform -- he is on good sensations and fighting.Bloody short price -- no value.

3mins by the start -- not enough!5mins by the start -- enough!...but then you have the TT cooperation along the flats situation to solve. And you need composition information for that.So what do we know?Bertie is all-in for the win -- team have done

Market says Roglic and I cannot fault the market -- very strong in the TT discipline and the chase group are not very string so even if they combine he should hold them off -- barring crash/mechanical.

Market says Roglic and I cannot fault the market -- very strong in the TT discipline and the chase group are not very string so even if they combine he should hold them off -- barring crash/mechanical.

Good call CJ, Aru was in small trouble on the climb and he has turned it into a disater for the GC, Such a small error by not closing that 12secs on teh steep portion of the descent, has allowed the gap o open right up on this flatter sections and he is gone -- game over for Aru in the GC.

Good call CJ, Aru was in small trouble on the climb and he has turned it into a disater for the GC, Such a small error by not closing that 12secs on teh steep portion of the descent, has allowed the gap o open right up on this flatter sections and he

Roglic has developed here, he had a good Romandie ride, but I didn't expect him to go before the summit and thought he might get distanced if an attack were to have occurred prior -- but he was the one to have attacked so he has performed better than he has before and therefore must have developed in this ride.

Roglic has developed here, he had a good Romandie ride, but I didn't expect him to go before the summit and thought he might get distanced if an attack were to have occurred prior -- but he was the one to have attacked so he has performed better than

Well, it wasn't the most entertaining stage, but a breakaway rider won, and one who did no work whilst Pantano and Mollema were driving it for Bertie.

Roglic was 66/1 at SP into 33/1 pre-start, so there was interest on him, definitely. But not by me, I have to admit. Not a loss though, thankfully.

The breakaway never required 10mins, it would have been different without TFR involvement and we never saw much fisticuffs from the GC contender, except for nearing the summit, and SKY's pace was high, but not high enough to close down the 3mins on the final climb proper, however Roglic would always be strong along the flats with some 8kms to-go even if they were closing on him, and so it would have been maybe a closer run thing, but not necessarily a different result, I don't think.

Well, it wasn't the most entertaining stage, but a breakaway rider won, and one who did no work whilst Pantano and Mollema were driving it for Bertie.Roglic was 66/1 at SP into 33/1 pre-start, so there was interest on him, definitely. But not by me,

I sometimes say that it is a boring stage on the bunch sprint stages when a small group is off the fron with no hope, but I don't really mean it, I love being a part of the Tour and enjoy something in it each day, even the rest days. [:laugh:

To answer your question, no I don't find it boring but I accept that there could be more GC excitment with riders smashing each other stage after stage in the mountains. Vuelta is a top GT race, I agree with you on that, though. Being the last of the GTs it seems to be more consistently enthralling, but it's not like the Tour.

I sometimes say that it is a boring stage on the bunch sprint stages when a small group is off the fron with no hope, but I don't really mean it, I love being a part of the Tour and enjoy something in it each day, even the rest days. [:laugh:To answe

not really interested in betting on the tour but love the scenery combined with quality racing but finding there are too many sprint finishes and the mountain stages are finishing in the valleys. took today of work and would have expected more fireworks to be honest.

not really interested in betting on the tour but love the scenery combined with quality racing but finding there are too many sprint finishes and the mountain stages are finishing in the valleys. took today of work and would have expected more firewo

Well I confused the stages between tomorrow and today, so that was a bit embarrassing, but I think given it is a summit-finish and Froome has won a summit-finish in two of his three Tour wins (last year he didn't technically win on the summit as the ITT had a short descent, and stage 8 was now his famous top-tube descent win) so there is an expectation that the foru main GC men should fight each other tomorrow on the final climb, and that might make for much more engrossing entertainment. I think that whilst there might again be two races on the road, between GC and breakaway, the final climb should give is a much greater sorting out between the GC combatants since we haven't seen a "bury-mode" attempt by a GC rider, except for Aru's 2.4km effort on stage 5, which wasn't the kind of climb they will be facing tomorrow.

Well I confused the stages between tomorrow and today, so that was a bit embarrassing, but I think given it is a summit-finish and Froome has won a summit-finish in two of his three Tour wins (last year he didn't technically win on the summit as the

Bertie can try this type of attack all he likes, however the data supports the fact that his form is not there for such a long sustained effort. The only thing it is doing is animating the pace of the peloton led by SKY and bringing it back toward a GC battle.I think he flounder on the Galibier, but I'm not willing to lay as I respect his pedigree.

I might not have been so respectful of a rider who is unlikely to ever return to career-best form, I believe. He was trading at Evens at one point for limited liquidity.

I might not have been so respectful of a rider who is unlikely to ever return to career-best form, I believe. He was trading at Evens at one point for limited liquidity.

Wonder

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